Shingles: Could You Be at Risk?

Shingles is a serious disease that can strike anyone who has had chickenpox. The Varicella zoster virus is the same virus which causes both Chickenpox and Shingles. Once a person has had Chickenpox the virus can remain dormant in the body. If the dormant virus becomes active it can cause Shingles. It is not known what causes the virus to reactivate but a weakened immune system is a contributing factor.

As you age the immune system weakens. This puts you more at risk for Shingles. Persons over 60 make up over half the annual Shingles cases in the United States. Individuals with an immune deficiency are also at greater risk, although Shingles can also strike people with normal immune systems.

Shingles can be potentially serious and is often extremely painful. The virus lying dormant has no symptoms and generally strikes without warning. Early signs of Shingles may be itching, burning, and a tingling sensation as the virus travels around a nerve path called a dermatone.

Within days a painful red rash with fluid-filled blisters appears that will last for a couple of weeks but can last as long as a month. The rash occurs on one side of the body and often the face and eyes are affected. The activity of the rash pinpoints the location of the affected nerve path.

As the rash heals the pain begins to subside. In some cases, however, the after effect of Shingles, called postherpetic neuralgia or PHN, experienced as sharp, stabbing pain can be felt for months and even years later.

Shingles is treated with anti-viral medications. Although there is no qualified evidence of the result there are some natural remedies that are said to aid with the healing of Shingles. If you suspect you have Shingles it is important that you do not wait to seek treatment. After 48 hours any significant help from treatment is minimal other than possibly reducing the duration of postherpetic neuralgia.

To date there is no prevention for Shingles other than avoiding contact with persons who have had Chickenpox. Could you be at risk? If you had Chickenpox you are potentially at risk for Shingles. The older you are the greater the risk. The majority of Shingles outbreaks are with persons over the age of 60.